Folding poultry-coop



2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

l (No Model.)

R. C. MEINDER. FOLDING POULTRY COOP.

No. 544,680. Y PatentdAug. 20, 1.895.

Uiyirrnn STATES .sFr-SCE.

ATENT t FOLDING PoULTRY-coop.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,680, dated August 20, 1895. Application filed May 27. 1895. Serial No. 550,768. (No model.)

To LZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ROBERT C. MEINDER, a

' citizen of the yUnited States, residing at Pittsburg, No. 44: Van Braam street, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new 4and useful Improvements in Folding Poultry-(loops, and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to furnish a poultry-coop which may be folded on the bottom so as not to take up anymore door-space than that occupied by the coop when open and so as to occupy only one-iifth the height and having detachable sides, which afford ample opportunity for cleaning, the parts being constructed so as to interlock and hold itself firmly together, making a strong and serviceable coop. The manner in which this obj ect is attained is shown in the accompanying drawings, made on two sheets, as follows:

Figure l is a perspective View of the coop readyfor poultry. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the coop closed ready for reshipment, occupying one-fifth ofA the space required when open. For the sake of clearness the sides E F F and E F2 F3 are not indicated in this view. Fig. 3 is a side View of the coop partly closed, showing sides resting on bottom P. Fig. 4 is a side View of the coop in a closed position. Fig. 5 is a View of one ot' the detachablev sides. Fig. G is a section through X Y Z of Fig. l, showing particu- `larly method of retaining sides in position.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several Views. i

In the drawings, P is the bottom 'of the coop, having a cleat N nailed to it, one cleat at each end.

M H forms an end, of which the part H is fastened by a nail through the pin-plate I, so that it is free to rotate about this nail in opening and closing the coop. This plate I is nailed to the cleat N. The other end is constructed in the same manner.

In opening the coop the end H M is ro-` tated from its positionv on the bottoml until it becomes perpendicular to the bottom P, where it is stopped bythe slat M coming in contact with the bottom P; also simultaneously the part H strikes the cleat N. This arrangement serves not only to stop the end when it arrives at its proper position, but acts also as a brace. The opposite end H M acts precisely in the same manner as H M',

just described. The upper slats of the ends H M and H M have at their ends small projectionsgG and G,'w.hich move back or forward in the slot S2 S3 K as the coop is opened or closed. When the coop is open G and the slat are against L, also G and slat against L', and when closed the upper slats of the slats S S and S2 S3 on their lower sides at their middle. The side is also prevented from slipping back towardl the bottom of the coop by a shoulder on the piece D D', it being so cut that it [its `exactly over the top and along the back of upright. The ends of the slats composing the sides E F F and E F2 F3 extend beyond the upright F and F and project behind H and H when the coop is open. The lower ends of the uprights E, F, and F and E, F2, and F3 project beyond the lower slat of the side to assist in holding the side in place when the coop is open. The sides while firmly held in place firmly lock the ends H M and H M in place, the pieces F F constantly bracing the parts H and H, respectively, of the ends-that is, when the coop is open ready for use. The door B C, held in place by the slat A, is fully opened when slat C is next slat A, and is .closed when slat B is next slat A. The sides are the only parts of the coop which can be removed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a folding poultry coop, the bottom P with the ends H M and H M rotating about a nail in the pin plate I and I', the pin plate being nailed to the cleat N; and the upper slats of the ends H M and H M having at their ends small projections G and G to move in the slot S2 SS K; and the sides E F F and E F2 F3 held in place by the pressure of S S and S2 S3 and by the shoulder in the locking piece D D', the lateral slats having projectingr ends beyond the uprights F, F', F2 and 

